9 Easy Ways to Be Healthier in 2018

The new year is the best time to reinvent yourself and find new ways to be healthier. Whether it’s establishing a new exercise routine or eating better, taking care of yourself can be easy if you have a plan.

The simplest way to improve your lifestyle is to write down your goals on paper. You can track your progress, add new ideas and build discipline.

For starters, write down one major health-related goal and divide it into a few smaller steps. For instance, if you’re trying to be fitter in 2018, think about how you’ll get there. It can be joining a new gym, working out with a personal trainer, eating a healthy breakfast or adding more veggies to your diet.

Keep reading to discover 9 easy ways to be healthier and achieve optimal well-being this year.

1. Eat a Healthy Breakfast

One of the best ways to be healthier in the new year is to have a balanced, nutrient-packed breakfast.

If your mornings are rushed and you don’t have time to prepare one, make something the night before. Another option is to make a weekly breakfast plan so you know what to have every morning.

It’s important for your breakfast to be low in carbs and high in protein. Some of our favorite breakfast combos include:

Avocado egg toast

Granola with Greek yogurt and fruits

Banana, nut butter and chia seed on toast

Quinoa porridge

Fritatta

Protein Smoothie

Oatmeal

Quinoa muffins

Add some vitamin and mineral food supplements from Rich Minerals for a fully nutritional breakfast.

2. Drink More Water

Water is essential for keeping your body hydrated and healthy. It helps your metabolism flush out toxins and gives your cells more energy. On top of that, water is also a great ally in weight loss because it helps you feel fuller longer.

Your body is 70% water, so whenever you feel a little sick or are coming down with a cold, drink water as much as possible. 6-8 glasses of water per day are the optimal amount of liquid to keep you healthy and energetic.

Try to avoid store-bought artificially-flavored water. Instead, add a few slices of lemon, lime, orange, cucumber or fresh mint to boost it up.

3. Exercise

As you’re thinking of new ways to be healthier, consider adding some movement to your days. If you’re into fitness, join a good gym and hire a personal trainer to help you achieve better results. If you’re more into jogging, yoga or pilates, schedule 3 days per week to do full sessions.

You can also start with brisk walking and work your way from there. The main goal is to incorporate more exercise into your life and stick to it.

4. Cut Down on Sugar

Nowadays, sugar is everywhere, especially in packaged and canned foods, fruit juices, and sodas. Refined sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, barley malt, and dextrose are just some of the many names you’ll find on food labels.

Sugar is a simple carb, which means it’s easily digested, providing short-term energy to the cells. The calories you consume this way are empty, devoid of any nutrients, vitamins, and minerals.

If the body doesn’t use this energy all at once, it stores it as fat cells. Consuming large amounts of sugar on a daily basis can lead to diseases like diabetes, fatty liver, obesity, and even cancer.

To cut down on unhealthy carbs, avoid sugary drinks, sweets, and products from refined flour. Next, learn how to read food labels. Remember that “sugar” is just an umbrella term and most food companies will have it listed under another name such as fructose, sucrose, corn syrup etc.

5. Eat from a Smaller Plate

If you want to get healthier and lose some stubborn weight at the same time, try eating your meals from a smaller plate. This will help you control your portions without overeating or starving and is an effective way to eat just the right amount of food.

The same goes for snacking – don’t take the entire bag with you in front of the TV. Instead, put a handful of nuts in a small bowl and call it a night.

6. Reduce Stress

Reducing stress is one of the most effective ways to be healthier. No one is immune to stress, but you can learn how to react to it and not let it affect your well-being.

Meditation has been known to not only keep stress at bay, but also help you cope with stressful situations on a daily basis. Physical exercise and yoga are great for stress relief and getting rid of negative energy.

Doing something you enjoy can also greatly reduce stress. Hobbies, writing or painting, playing with your pet or watching a funny TV show are some examples.

7. Find Time to Relax

Aside from finding ways to be healthier physically, you also have to take care of your emotional needs. Finding time to relax and forget about the stress of everyday life is crucial if you want to improve your well-being.

Make time in your day to just sit and do nothing. Breathe deeply and let your mind be still. If thoughts come to you, just let them pass. Play some relaxing music, take a bubble bath, read a book or go out in nature.

8. Go Out in Nature

Whenever you can, take a trip to a nearby forest or the countryside. Rent a cabin for a weekend and enjoy the birds chirping, the sounds of water, and the wind among the tree leaves.

If you love the beach, go there in the early morning when there are no people around and listen to the waves. Your mind and body will thank you.

9. Have More Quality Sleep

One of the best ways to be healthier every day is to get quality sleep. Though 6-8 hours of sleep is optimal for good health, going to bed earlier can also help you create better sleeping patterns.

In addition, sleep cycles are divided into 5 stages, each lasting about 90 minutes. If you wake up in the middle of a cycle, you’ll be groggy and tired. If you wake up between two stages, you’ll feel refreshed and rested.

To get more quality sleep in the new year, turn off or remove all electronic devices from your bedroom. Meditate for 15 minutes or do yoga to help your body prepare for sleep.

Wrapping Up the Best Ways to Be Healthier in 2018

2018 is the year for positive changes, more happiness, and less stress. With our tips, you can achieve a healthier body and mind and become a better version of yourself.

Check out our blog for more useful articles and find inspiration today.